Dr Bruno Surdel, senior analyst with CIR- CSM, during an interview with TVP World as part of the “How We Got Here” series, expressed the view that “Turkey is engaged in a tactical game with the West, particularly with the European Union and the United States, and part of this strategy involves closer ties with BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. However, this does not necessarily indicate that Ankara genuinely intends to join these blocs and organisations. The long-standing wait for EU membership, combined with recurring disagreements with Washington, notably over the purchase of F-35 and later F-16 jets, pushes Turkey to seek leverage over its Western partners. At the same time, Turkey is one of the few countries capable of meaningful cooperation with both the West and the East. Ankara aims to secure a position that goes beyond that of a regional power.”
Watch the full show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1YOAzxgkOk&t=615s
